Tag: Paul Bartel

THE LIVING END (1992)

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 Written, Directed, Edited & Cinematography by: Greg Araki

Cast: Craig Gilmore, Mike Dytri, Darcy Marta, Johanna Went, Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel 

Luke is a gay hustler. Jon is a movie critic. Both are HIV positive. They go on a hedonistic, dangerous journey, their motto “Fuck the world”.

Even though this is writer/director Greg Araki’s first film. This is one of the latest of his films I have actually watched. I have seen all of his work from the film THE DOOM GENERATION (His first self-proclaimed openly heterosexual film. His third actual film and the second in his teenage apocalypse trilogy) on.

I didn’t like that film. The film did fascinate me with its style, anger, and punk sensibility. This is why no matter what I always give Araki’s film a try.

This is his debut film. Where he pretty much made the film on his own. but also this was the start of the New Queer Cinema movement. 

Here the film doesn’t pull any punches. It is punk all the way. Angry, in your face, violent, no rules, and funny. The film has it’s messages and stylish selections throughout.

This wasn’t a film where its main characters were gay and sexless. Nor supporting characters in some straight love story. Or comic relief. They were the protagonists and very sexual which we see and good looking. Though also both are dying.

The film offers commentary on the world through side characters and their matter-of-fact dialogue. That works on a commentary of the social scene at the time.

It also offers a violent story with two lovers on the run. That actually seems like it is headed for tragedy and violence. It shockingly becomes something that is personal, emotional, and actually about the characters makeing a connection In all the chaos that is supposedly normal life. 

The characters and film both have a nihilistic outlook but end with finding connections and hope on the edge. Leaving a message of living life to the fullest While young. As the characters are the ultimate attractive outsiders who manage to find one another amongst the chaos.

The film wears its influences in it’s background with various new wave and Avant-garde film posters pampering the walls. Not to mention a cameo from cult actress Mary Woronov.

The film has a certain energy and excitement that it never keeps up with at first and that you think will keep up, but it slowly starts to pump its breaks and go slower and takes its turns with the characters. Losing its urgency but allowing for more depth. Still driven by music or the soundtrack. That comes off as inner monologues at times. 

Though there are straight supporting characters the film stays mainly with the main couple.

The film is less violent and more talkative than one would expect. 

As the film goes along they are lovers on the run whose relationship starts off more sexy and exciting. Though as the film goes along they get to know each other and form a bond and relationship. Driven by sex and end up finding love in their own nihilistic lives.

Random strangers in the background carrying messages that end up being the film’s sly commentary. As well as comic relief.

I can’t say I love this film, but it kept my interests mostly throughout and was refreshing to see a love story that was sexual and not fluffy necessarily that just happened to be a homosexual love story. It’s down and dirty and penetrating In many ways 

An interesting take on modern love at the time. 

Grade: B

CADDYSHACK 2 (1988)

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Directed By: Allan Arkush 

Written By: Harold Ramis & Peter Torkovei 

Based On Characters Originally Created By: Brian Doyle Murray, Harold Ramis & Douglas Kenny 

Cinematography: Harry Stradling 

Editor: Bernard Gribble 

Cast: Jackie Mason, Dyan Cannon, Chevy Chase, Robert Stack, Dan Aykroyd, Randy Quaid, Jonathan Silverman, Jessica Lundy, Paul Bartel, Marsha Warfield, Dina Merrill, Brian McNamera, Chynna Phillips, Pepe Serna Jack Hartounian


A self made man is trying to get into Bushwood County Club because his daughter’s being asked by her snooty friends. Jack applies but a few things ruins his application, one that he’s extremely boorish and because he is building low cost housing in an affluent neighborhood. Jack then turns to Ty Webb who owns the majority share of the club, Jack buys Ty’s shares and then takes over the club and makes some changes which the members don’t like. That’s when the club members attack Jack by stopping his housing project. Eventually they decide to settle it on the golf course but the club president decides to take contingencies.

It’s Already hard to follow up as a sequel to a comedy classic.

The film tries to throw everything against the wall to work and it still ends up a mostly unfunny mess. one usually tries to see the good in most films and while at times it tries to be amusing this is obviously more of an obvious cash grab with little to no heart. If not a cash grab (as most films are either way) This seems more of a situation where the film began one way and this is what the powers that be consider salvaging it.

The movie still has the same basic theme of Snobs Vs. Slobs. Though it doesn’t include the rivalry so much amongst the staff as much. Taking out the wacky side characters and also making it more mature. As there are teenagers but they are college students and other then a kind of romance. They aren’t used that much. So it basically eliminates the teenage element and seems to be more centered around anti-semitism though it proves to be the only subtle thing in the movie.

The film manages to get original cast member Chevy chase to cameo as the film tries to retain the flavor of the original. In the absence of the rest of the cast of the original they have Dan Aykroyd in a small role similar to Bill Murray’s but you end up not caring even with a very inspired off the wall comedic performance from Randy Quaid. That was originally intended for late comedian Sam Kinison. Still it feels like when anyone famous shows up in the movie it feels more like they are guest starring more than acting or playing a character.

Randy Quaid appearing in this film is kind of prophetic considering he ended up starring in DEAD SOLID PERFECT an acclaimed cable original movie where he played a golfer and was nominated for an Emmy for the role.

The film was originally written to star Rodney Dangerfield. Basing the movie around his character from the first film. He was willing to until he read the script then dropped out. You can see the signs during this film for it to be more built around his character. Just as the film tries to copy the character types from the first film but not be as rebelious or daring in it’s comedy.

Jackie Mason as the lead can’t really act and is hard to be likeable. Though with Mason’s casting the movie has a kind of Wasp against Jewish and all outsiders making it more a film that is not only anti-semitism but also against prejudice. Though it doesn’t help that his character is vert hard to like, but the film tries to convince us is charming to others. Even as most of his friends seem to be only people who work for him.

The film tries to skew as much to the original as far as familiar roles. Though here they lose the teenage coming of age angle. It’s here in the form of college students who get a lot less screen time. As the film prefers to stay on the adults and even when staying on the more adult characters the film is so family friendly that all the raunch that was a staple of the first film is washed out and stays pretty bland. Like this film is more aimed at kids.

It also takes away from the more working class elements of the original to be more of a generational wealth versus a newly rich theme.

There is a romance thrown in for the younger characters and even Mason’s but it’s useless as they all come off as types instead of characters. As the daughter of Jackie Mason’s character played by Jessica Lundy dates the WASP son of the golf course owner and discovers she has more chemistry with the caddy Played By Jonathan Silverman who we actually learn little about.

What is also missing is that the original was hard core rude and anti-establishment. This film is More corporate safe almost family friendly.

When I watched this as a kid I remember Robert Stack from UNSOLVED MYSTERIES in an acting role was big for me. Not knowing he was already an accomplished actor. Him playing the villain here to perfection.

One aspect that has stayed with me over the years when it comes to the film is the main theme song played at the beginning. Though listening to it now is more a cheesy nostalgic pleasure.

Grade: F